In a recent showcase, Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon X Elite PC chip, presenting a striking performance comparison with Apple’s latest M3 series. The Snapdragon X Elite, initially announced in October, is said to surpass the new Apple M3 chips in speed and efficiency.
Qualcomm’s bold performance claims
Initially compared to Apple’s M2 Max chip, the Snapdragon’s Qualcomm Oyron CPU boasted a 30% reduction in power usage while matching its competitor’s peak performance. However, the competition dynamics have shifted with Apple’s launch of the M3 series. Qualcomm claims its Oyron chip is 21% faster than Apple’s M3 in multi-core performance, marking a significant step forward in CPU technology.
A Qualcomm representative highlighted the inevitable differences in software experiences due to the different operating systems (macOS for Apple and Windows for Qualcomm) but stressed the hardware’s consistency as a key selling point.
The evolution of chip technology
Apple’s M3 chips have been a significant development, marking a milestone in the company’s chip-making journey. However, Qualcomm has stepped up to challenge Apple in CPU performance and AI capabilities, a field where Apple still needs to invest heavily.
Qualcomm’s claim that their new chips are 4.5 times faster at AI tasks than their rivals adds another layer to this evolving competition. Furthermore, Qualcomm had previously rated its Oyron CPU as faster than the leading x86 CPU in the market, a claim yet to be tested against Intel’s newly announced 14th-gen Meteor Lake processors.
The future of Snapdragon-powered PCs
Snapdragon-powered PCs are expected to be available by mid-2024, with major vendors like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and others on board. Qualcomm has already received positive internal feedback for these unbranded reference devices, particularly noting their performance enhancements and the integration of on-device AI capabilities.
Consumers interested in the latest in PC technology should wait until these Snapdragon-powered PCs are released to experience the full benefits of these advancements.
The anticipation surrounding Qualcomm’s new chips and their competition with Apple’s M3 series is high. It won’t be long before we see if these claims hold up under real-world usage.
